Africa Organization for Standardization (ARSO)14th Continental Essay Competition (Win Up to $1,000)

The competition aims to promote a culture of standardisation and quality among African youth while encouraging students to contribute ideas on the continent’s trade and economic development.

 

Essay Competition Theme

“Advancing Intra-African Trade through Conformity Assessment and Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) — Unlocking the Full Potential of the Cotton-to-Clothing Value Chain under the AfCFTA.”

The competition challenges students to examine how stronger conformity assessment systems and Mutual Recognition Agreements can support the cotton-to-clothing value chain and advance the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

 

Eligibility Requirements

To participate, applicants must:

• Be enrolled in an accredited tertiary institution in an African Union member state at the time of submission.
• Be 35 years old or younger by the essay submission deadline.
• Be studying any discipline, as the competition is open to students across all fields.
• Submit only one essay. Group and co-authored submissions are not accepted.
• Comply with the competition’s copyright rules and ethical guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence.

Essay Submission Guidelines

Applicants must adhere to the following requirements:

• Length: 1,000–1,200 words, excluding references, the cover page and appendices.
• Language: English or French.
• Originality: Essays must be original and unpublished. Plagiarised or substantially AI-generated submissions will be disqualified if detected.
• Referencing: Sources must be properly acknowledged using a consistent citation style, such as APA.
• Format: Submit the essay as a Microsoft Word (.docx) document, using 12-point font and 1.5 line spacing.
• Cover page: Include the student’s name, institution, country and contact details on a separate cover page. The essay body must not contain the author’s name or institution to ensure blind judging.
• Submission channel: Essays must be submitted through the National Coordinator in the applicant’s country of study. Direct submissions to the ARSO Secretariat will be referred to the relevant National Coordinator.

Applicants must also attach a copy of their identity card or passport and a completed ARSO/CACO/EC/Form 1/2026 Registration Form.

Competition Prizes

The competition offers cash prizes and certificates of excellence to the top three winners:

• First Place: $1,000 cash award, certificate of excellence and public recognition at the ARSO Awards Ceremony.
• Second Place: $800 cash award and certificate of excellence.
• Third Place: $500 cash award and certificate of excellence.

Method of Application

Eligible students should prepare their essays according to the competition guidelines and submit them through the ARSO National Coordinator in their country of study. Applicants should include the required identification document and completed registration form.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE